Minister of Mines and Minerals Development, Paul Kabuswe, says operations at AVOCADO mining limited remain suspended until the breaches cited by Zambia Environmental Management Agency (ZEMA) and Mines Safety Department (MSD) have been attended to.
Mr. Kabuswe said this when he gave a ministerial statement in the National Assembly yesterday, on the measures government is taking to reduce the effects of fumes produced by sulphur dioxide being released from mines processing copper in Kalulushi district.
He said a site investigation by the ministry on 8th November, 2024 established that AVOCADO mining limited has been discharging Sulphur Dioxide fumes within Kalulushi district without approval from the ZEMA.
Mr. Kabuswe said the ministry established that ZEMA cited AVOCADO mining limited on 31st October, 2024, for a number of breaches.
He said the major breaches included implementing a project for which an environmental impact assessment is required without conducting the actual environmental impact assessment and discharging a contaminate into the environment without an emission license.
Eva Hatontola
